Jobless youth gets two years behind bars for Macau scam

SIBU: An unemployed youth who pleaded guilty to two criminal charges for involvement in Macau scam was sentenced to two-year imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday.

Magistrate Muhammad Faizal Che Saad sentenced Mohd Nadzrin Zaidel, 23, of Astana Road in Kuching to 12 months in prison and a RM3,000 fine, for the first charge.

For the second charge, the accused received 18 months in prison and a RM3,500 fine.

The prison terms are to run concurrently.

However, Mohd Nadzrin was unable to pay the fines. In this regard, a default sentence of six months’ jail was imposed on him.

Und e r the f i r st cha r g e , Mohd Nadzrin was accused of fraudulent ly assisting in the concealment of a property belonging to an individual of cash amounting to RM9,487.97 by dishonestly removing the said money from the latter’s bank account.

The offence was committed at a bank at 6.25pm on Jan 17 last year.

Under the second charge, Mohd Nadzrin is accused of fraudulently assisting in the concealment of a property, also belonging to the same individual, of cash amounting to RM991.51 by dishonestly removing the said amount of money from the latter’s bank account – also on Jan 17 last year.

Both offences are punishable under Section 424 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to five years or fine, or both.

According to the facts of case, on Jan 17 last year the victim – a coffeeshop operator – received text messages stating that his credit card had been used at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Genting Highlands.

Subsequently, he called a phone number said to have been given by Mohd Nadzrin. A woman, who identified herself as ‘Miss Wong’ from ‘Bank Negara’, answered the call and told the victim that his personal information had been misused.

On the pretext of assisting the victim, Miss Wong directed him to transfer his money to a bank account number.

The victim compl ied and transferred his money amounting to RM10,479.4 8 to the said account.

Realising that he had been duped, the victim went to Sibu police station to lodge a report.